COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Columbus, Ohio, Mayor Michael Coleman has joined his state's 2006 gubernatorial race with a promise to pull Ohio from what he calls an economic crisis.
"My candidacy will be about creating jobs where there is joblessness and making Ohio great again," the Democrat said, becoming the first of his party to announce for the state's top job.
Coleman admitted he doesn't have all the solutions, but insisted he would make the necessary tough decisions to turn Ohio's economy around, the Cincinnati Enquirer said Wednesday.
"We have a state that used to be ranked at the top of everything good, and the bottom of everything bad," he said, noting that during the past decade the rankings have been reversed.
He may not be the last Democrat in the race. Former Cincinnati Mayor and talk show host Jerry Springer, U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown, former U.S. Rep. Dennis Eckart and state Sen. Eric Fingerhut, who lost a 2004 U.S. Senate bid to Republican George Voinovich, are all believed to be considering the race.
Three Republicans are also vying for the governorship: state Auditor Betty Montgomery, Secretary of State Ken Blackwell and Attorney General Jim Petro.
Current GOP Gov. Bob Taft is term limited.
